Green-Douglass, Hoffman gear up for Johnson County special election

IOWA CITY — The Iowa caucuses are still a few weeks away, but on Tuesday in Johnson County, voters will choose from two candidates running in a local special election.

Democrat Lisa Green-Douglass, who has been active in local politics since 1988, and third-term North Liberty Council member and no party candidate Chris Hoffman are seeking a vacant seat on the five-member Johnson County Board of Supervisors.

The election was scheduled to fill the seat vacated by former Supervisor Terrence Neuzil, who announced last year his resignation to take a job in Kalamazoo, Mich.

Johnson County Republicans did not nominate a candidate for the election, which was scheduled for early this year by the county Auditor's Office to pre-empt the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1.

Polls are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lisa Green-Douglass

Green-Douglass, who served for 14 years on the Johnson County Democrats Central Committee, said she has been interested in politics and government for years.

'Being a member of the Board of Supervisors would provide me the opportunity to use my skills in ways that would benefit the community. I find the position of a county supervisor to be a unique elected position because it includes budgets, management, and policy-making,' she said in an email.

Green-Douglass, 57, said one of her top qualifications for the position is her experience working with diverse groups of people.

'Those experiences have shaped me into an approachable person who is willing to put in the time and effort needed to find solutions,' she said. 'I work hard and do my homework to learn about an issue, seeking as much information as possible before making a decision.'

Green-Douglass, who works as a Spanish-language trainer for job-specific language needs, said some of her top priorities for the county include improving infrastructure and transit, better serving vulnerable populations like the elderly, those living in poverty and residents with mental health issues and pursuing more sustainable initiatives.

Chris Hoffman

Hoffman has served on the North Liberty Council since 2007 and said that position has provided years of experience in communicating with many elected officials with differing viewpoints.

Hoffman, who is a stay at home dad and part-time business developer with Moxie Solar, said the county needs more collaboration, not just among the board, but also with the county's city councils and residents.

'We need more of that collaboration at the supervisor table. The work of serving all of Johnson County, in my opinion, has been sidelined by marginalizing the voices of disagreement,' he said in an email. 'Johnson County is home to a diverse group of individuals with different opinions and backgrounds, and we don't always agree on what is the best course of action for our community. It is important, then, that we have representation that unites us and seeks to serve our greatest collective good.'

Hoffman, 42, said collaboration among municipalities and all residents, focusing on multijurisdictional efficiencies to maximize local budgets and studying a countywide transit solution, are key needs for the county.

'I feel my collaborative attitude and experience as a current elected person in Johnson County makes me the most capable and qualified candidate,' he said. 'As a city councilor currently, I am most familiar and acclimated to the work of county government.'